Impact Of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy On Claudication Pain And Wound Healing In Diabetic Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and challenging complication in patients with diabetes, often leading to pain, delayed wound healing, and in severe cases, limb amputation. This study aimed to assess the impact of platelet-rich plasma therapy on claudication pain and wound healing in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease. Methods: This single-center, observational study investigated the effects of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on pain reduction and wound healing in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and foot ulcers. The study took place in the Department of Plastic Surgery, AIMS Hospital, Dhaka, and included 50 patients with diabetic foot ulceration and confirmed PAD who received PRP treatment between January 2021 and December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups (25 in each) based on the severity of their PAD, classified by the Fontaine classification: Group A: Patients with mild-to-moderate PAD (Fontaine stages I, IIa, and IIb), Group B: Patients with severe PAD (Fontaine stages III and IV). data were analysed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Result: This study found that patients with mild-to-moderate PAD (Group A) showed better outcomes with PRP treatment than those with severe PAD (Group B). Group A experienced fewer PRP sessions, greater pain reduction, and higher ulcer healing rates (>50% in 87% of cases vs. 70% in Group B). Limb salvage was high in both groups (92% in Group A, 88% in Group B), but Group A also had higher patient satisfaction and lower amputation rates. Overall, PRP showed promise as a treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, especially in patients with less severe PAD. Conclusion: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) significantly improves ulcer healing and pain reduction in diabetic foot ulcer patients, with better outcomes observed in patients with mild-to-moderate peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Despite the presence of severe PAD in some patients, PRP still proved to be a valuable adjunct, with a high limb salvage rate (90%) and significant ulcer healing (>50%) in both groups. These results suggest that PRP can be an effective treatment option for diabetic foot ulcers, even in patients with unreconstructable arterial disease